Tomato Walnut Pesto Penne

WOW! This dish is a taste of Italy right in your kitchen. A simple
homemade pesto of toasted walnuts, fresh basil and spinach is blended
with flavorful Prego® sauce to create one amazing dish.

Tomato Walnut Pesto Penne
from Campbell's Kitchen

Prep Time: 15 min.
Cook Time: 5 min.

1/4 cup walnuts, toasted
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup loosely-packed fresh basil leaves
4 cups loosely-packed fresh baby spinach
3 cups Prego® Heart Smart Ricotta Parmesan Italian Sauce
1 package (16 ounces) penne pasta, cooked and drained (about 9 cups)
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

1. Place the walnuts and garlic into a food processor or blender. Cover
and process until the mixture is finely chopped. Add the basil and
spinach and process until the mixture forms a smooth paste.

2. Heat the sauce and the walnut mixture in a 2-quart saucepan over
medium heat for 5 minutes or until the mixture is hot and bubbling.

3. Toss the sauce mixture with the pasta. Sprinkle with the cheese.

/Tip*:*/ If you're using a blender, reserve *1/4 cup* pasta water and
add it to the walnut mixture to help the blending.
Makes: 8 servings (1 cup each).

Kitchen Clip
                              To toast walnuts, either toss them in a dry skillet over
medium-high heat until fragrant or toast in a 400°F oven for about 10
minutes. In either case, stir the nuts frequently while toasting to
prevent scorching or burning.
Received on Sun Sep 19 15:01:57 2010